Optical fiber connectors and methods of connecting optical fibers

Abstract

A connector for optically connecting an optical fiber to an optical fiber port at a leading edge of the connector, the connector comprising: a housing configured to receive the optical fiber; a latch coupled to the housing and extending from the housing toward the leading edge of the connector; and a handle coupled to the latch, the handle operable to move the latch between locked and unlocked positions with respect to the optical fiber port, wherein moving the handle away from the leading edge of the connector unlocks the latch from the optical fiber port.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector for optically connecting an optical fiber to an optical fiber port at a leading edge of the connector, the connector comprising:
 a housing configured to receive the optical fiber; 
 a latch coupled to the housing and extending from the housing toward the leading edge of the connector; and 
 a handle coupled to the latch, the handle operable to move the latch between locked and unlocked positions with respect to the optical fiber port, 
 wherein moving the handle away from the leading edge of the connector unlocks the latch from the optical fiber port, wherein the latch defines a first aspect ratio, as measured by an effective length of the latch relative to an effective height of the latch in a locked position [L E1 /H E1 ], and a second aspect ratio, as measure by the effective length of the latch relative to the effective height of the latch in an unlocked position [L E2 /H E2 ], and wherein the first aspect ratio is greater than the second aspect ratio. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein at least 25% of a length of the latch lies along a curved line when the latch is in an unbiased state. 
     
     
       3. The connector of  claim 2 , wherein the curved line has a radius of curvature less than 2 inches (in). 
     
     
       4. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises a leading end spaced apart from a trailing end by a middle portion, and wherein unlocking the latch comprises moving the middle portion of the latch in a direction away from the housing. 
     
     
       5. The connector of  claim 4 , wherein the leading end of the latch is spaced apart from the housing. 
     
     
       6. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is removably coupled to the latch. 
     
     
       7. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein a leading end of the latch comprises a ramp configured to selectively secure the connector to a mating component of the optical fiber port when the connector is in the locked position relative to the optical fiber port. 
     
     
       8. A connector for an optical fiber, the connector comprising:
 a latch extending from a housing of the connector in a direction toward a leading edge of the connector, the latch configured to selectively couple the connector to an optical fiber port, wherein at least 25% of a length of the latch lies along a curved line when the latch is in an unbiased state, wherein the latch defines a first aspect ratio, as measured by an effective length of the latch relative to an effective height of the latch in a locked position [L E1 /H E1 ], and a second aspect ratio, as measure by the effective length of the latch relative to the effective height of the latch in an unlocked position [L E2 /H E2 ], and wherein the first aspect ratio is greater than the second aspect ratio. 
 
     
     
       9. The connector of  claim 8 , wherein at least 50% of the length of the latch lies along the curved line when the latch is unbiased. 
     
     
       10. The connector of  claim 8 , wherein the curved line has a radius of curvature less than 2 inches (in). 
     
     
       11. The connector of  claim 8 , wherein the connector further comprises a handle configured to be removably coupled to the latch. 
     
     
       12. The connector of  claim 8 , wherein a leading end of the latch comprises a ramp configured to selectively secure the connector to a mating component of the optical fiber port when the connector is in a locked position relative to the optical fiber port. 
     
     
       13. The connector of  claim 8 , wherein the connector comprises a duplex fiber optic connector configured for reversible polarity. 
     
     
       14. A method of decoupling a connector from an optical fiber port, the method comprising:
 moving a handle of the connector in a direction away from the optical fiber port, wherein the handle is coupled to a latch of the connector, wherein the latch is coupled to a housing of the connector and extends toward a leading edge of the connector, and wherein moving the handle causes an aspect ratio of the latch, as measured by an effective length of the latch to an effective height of the latch [L E /L H ], to decrease; and 
 removing the connector from the optical fiber port. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein moving the handle away from the optical fiber port causes a radius of curvature of the latch to decrease. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the latch comprises a leading end spaced apart from a trailing end by a middle portion, and wherein moving the handle causes the middle portion of the latch to move in a direction away from the housing. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 reattaching the connector to the optical fiber port by inserting the connector into the optical fiber port until a locking formation of the connector engages with a mating component of the optical fiber port, 
 wherein the latch automatically moves to a locked position upon engaging with the mating component.